Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof, Germany

Architect	Paul Bonatz and Friedrich Eugen Scholer
Date Built	Completed 1928
Location	Schlossstrasse
Description
The station's Wikipedia page says that, "... After undergoing numerous changes, including moving the station tower from the main façade to the wing at the Schlossgarten, construction began in 1914 on the Cannstatter Strasse. Due to the track routing to the old station, construction needed to be done in two phases, with the first phase going into service on 22 October 1922, and the second part being completed in 1928." "The massive building deals with the steep terrain almost unnoticeably - there are nearly 5 meters from highest to lowest elevation between the tower and the so-called north exit. Bonatz put the tower directly on the axis of the Königstrasse as an optical point of aim, and another axis along the tower and the wing on the Schlossgarten continues on to the Neckar valley." "The construction has some highly regarded features. The façade is made of limestone, which was covered with bricks; on the inside, sandstone, tuff, and bricks form the walls. The roof structures are partially flat wood roofing, and partially constructed as reinforced concrete roofing. ... .... The use of exposed concrete on the pillars lends a modern flair to the main hall. The structure features conservative elements, shown in the monumentality and reserved decorations, as well as progressive elements, as shown by the flat roof structures, for example. The building is one of the most important architectural achievements in southern Germany." - Let's Step Inside - In 2016, when these images were taken, the station was the focus of a major infrastructure project known as Stuttgart 21. When completed this terminal station will be transformed into a through station with high-speed railway lines passing beneath the station in a series of tunnels. Land on the surface that was, and still is, used by the railway will be transformed into new developments and public spaces. Below ground eight railway lines will carry trains through an underground station. The project is very controversial and has resulted in huge demonstrations in the city with people concerned about a number of issues including the spiraling cost and the impact on this historic station building, part of which has already been demolished.

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